AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core i9-11980HK Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11980HK and AMD Ryzen 5 9600X occupy different corners of the market, yet they land within 2.4% of each other in average benchmark score. The Intel chip is a mobile processor from 2021, while the AMD part is a desktop chip from 2024. The data shows two very different design philosophies that happen to produce similar overall results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X dominates the head-to-head results, winning 13 of the 15 shared benchmarks. The margin is not subtle in several workloads. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 2691 against the Intel chip's 1876, a 30.3% advantage. The single-core version of that test shows a 22.8% lead for AMD with 342 versus 264.

The pattern repeats across the PassMark suite. The AMD chip leads by 37% in extended instructions (28023 vs 17654), by 44.7% in physics (2012 vs 1112), and by 57.1% in find prime numbers (233 vs 100). Data compression favors AMD by 21.8% (341021 vs 266571), and floating point math goes to AMD by 23% (60081 vs 46262). Integer math is closer but still AMD, 89918 vs 78682, a 12.5% margin. Multithread performance shows a 25.3% gap, with AMD at 30027 and Intel at 22436.

The Intel Core i9-11980HK wins only two of the shared benchmarks, but it wins them decisively. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel chip scores 18617 against AMD's 17528.5, a 6.2% lead. The single-core result is even stronger for Intel: 2628 vs 2183.5, a 20.4% advantage. These are the only two tests where the older Tiger Lake chip comes out ahead, but they are notable because Cinebench R23 is a common all-core and single-core stress test.

The rest of the field is close. Random string sorting shows AMD ahead by 11.8% (35946 vs 31709), and data encryption goes to AMD by 17% (16638 vs 13813). The single-thread PassMark result, listed twice in the database as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, shows AMD at 4570 versus Intel's 3261, a 28.6% gap in both entries.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is the clear leader in compute-heavy workloads that scale with instruction throughput and parallel execution. The 37% lead in extended instructions and the 57.1% lead in prime number calculation point to a processor that handles AVX-style and math-intensive code much faster. The 44.7% advantage in physics and the 25.3% lead in multithread performance reinforce that this chip is better suited to rendering, simulation, and any task that keeps all cores busy. Data compression and encryption also favor AMD, making it the stronger choice for archive management and disk encryption workloads.

The Intel Core i9-11980HK has a narrower but real set of strengths. Its 20.4% single-core win in Cinebench R23 suggests that lightly threaded applications with strong single-core dependencies still run well on this chip. The 6.2% multicore win in the same benchmark family shows that the Intel part can hold its own in some all-core rendering tasks, despite having fewer wins overall. The Intel chip also carries more threads, 16 versus 12, which may help in specific workloads that respond to thread count rather than raw per-core throughput.

For a user deciding between these two, the AMD chip is the safer bet for productivity and compute tasks. The Intel chip has a niche in older single-threaded applications that respond to its specific boost behavior.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-11980HK has an average benchmark score of 30422, while the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X scores 29713. The Intel chip is about 2.4% higher.

Q: Does the Intel chip ever beat the AMD chip in Cinebench?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i9-11980HK wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 18617 vs 17528.5 (6.2% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core with 2628 vs 2183.5 (20.4% lead). The AMD chip wins Cinebench R15 in both multicore (2691 vs 1876) and single-core (342 vs 264).

Q: How do the two chips compare in PassMark multithread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X scores 30027 in PassMark multithread, which is 25.3% higher than the Intel Core i9-11980HK's 22436.

Q: Which chip has better data compression performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X leads in PassMark data compression with 341021 vs 266571, a 21.8% advantage.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark gap between the two?

A: The biggest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X scores 233 against the Intel Core i9-11980HK's 100, a 57.1% difference.

Q: Are both processors unlocked?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-11980HK and the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X have an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ. The Intel Core i9-11980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds also differ: the Intel chip has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD chip runs at 3.90 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost. The Intel part has a TDP of 45 W, the AMD part is rated at 65 W.

Memory support is different. The Intel chip uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the AMD chip uses DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported on the Intel chip but is supported on the AMD chip. PCIe lanes also differ: Intel offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes.

The sockets are not compatible. The Intel Core i9-11980HK uses Intel BGA 1787, and the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X uses AMD Socket AM5. The Intel chip is a mobile part with a production status of end-of-life, released on 2021-05-10, with a launch MSRP of $583. The AMD chip is a desktop part with active production, released on 2024-08-07, with a launch MSRP of $279.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-11980HK is built on Tiger Lake-H, using Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 190 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is built on Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, using TSMC's 4 nm process with a die size of 70.6 mm² and 8,315 million transistors. The AMD chip's smaller process node and die size reflect a much newer manufacturing generation.

Cache layouts differ. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The Intel chip has 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 cache per core and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has more total L3, which benefits workloads with large working sets.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD chip includes Radeon Graphics. The market segments are distinct: the Intel chip is mobile, and the AMD chip is desktop. The Intel chip is end-of-life, while the AMD chip is active in production.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is the stronger all-around performer in the database. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, often by double-digit margins. For compute-heavy tasks like physics simulation, extended instruction workloads, and multithreaded PassMark tests, the AMD chip is the clear choice. Its higher memory bandwidth, newer process node, and larger L3 cache support its performance advantages.

The Intel Core i9-11980HK is not without merit. Its Cinebench R23 wins, particularly the 20.4% single-core lead, show that it can outperform the AMD chip in specific rendering and single-threaded scenarios. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration gives it a thread advantage that some workloads may use. It also has a smaller footprint in terms of TDP at 45 W versus 65 W, which matters for mobile use.

The decision comes down to workload and platform. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a desktop part with active support, DDR5 memory, and PCIe Gen 5. The Intel Core i9-11980HK is a mobile part that is end-of-life, using DDR4 and PCIe Gen 4. The data favors the AMD chip for most users, but the Intel chip remains competitive in specific Cinebench-based tasks. Pick the AMD chip for general compute and throughput, pick the Intel chip if the workload aligns with its Cinebench R23 strengths or if the mobile form factor is required.